Friday, April 27, 2012

That disturbance in the Force
you sense is the arrival of irascible Donald Duck in the fearsome guise of the
infamous Darth Maul from the Star Wars
saga. Wielding the sinister Sith Lord’s
double-bladed lightsaber and outfitted in black, Donald strikes fear in all who
behold his visage and piercing gaze. All Jedi should prepare for Darth Maul’s
relentless pursuit of his quarry!

The creative “Forces” at
Disney Parks, Lucasfilm, and Walt Disney Classics Collection proudly present
this new collectible sculpture. Using
the same principles applied to classic Disney animation and hand-crafted of
kiln-fired porcelain with accents of metallic paint on the lightsaber handle,
this character-authentic sculpture stands 5 ¼” high x 7 ½” wide x 3 ½” deep and includes a Disney
Certificate of Authenticity.

Give in to the Dark Side,
make Darth Maul Donald part of your Star Wars and WDCC collection!

Click Image for Product Detail

Donald Duck as Darth Maul will be released during Star Wars™ Weekends. Sculpture release date is April 30, 2012. Donald 'Darth Maul' is an Open Edition with a SRP of $ 150.00 US. Donald is the 2nd release in the Star Wars Series joining Jedi Mickey, an Open Edition release, released in September 2010.

Please check www.ArtOfDisneyParks.com for an announcement by April 30th with more information on how to acquire and availability.

NOTE: A limited number of WDCC Darth Maul Donald
sculptures will be made available at Disneyland® Resort following the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort premiere, subject to availability.

Stitch has played many roles
in his brief but tumultuous lifespan: Experiment 626, intergalactic
criminal fugitive, household pet... But his greatest challenge yet is
taking on the mantle of the Star Wars saga’s legendary Yoda.
Draped in the wizened Jedi Master’s robes and armed with a diminutive
lightsaber, Stitch exudes the indomitable spirit and focused concentration of a
true wielder of the Force. Judge him by his size, do you?

This character-authentic,
polystone mini-bust designed and art directed by Disney veteran animator Ruben
Procopio and sculpted by Bruce Lau stands 8 ¼” high x 3 ¾” wide x 4” deep and is hand-painted and ready
to display. The base design takes
inspiration from architectural elements and color palette from the Grand
Convocation Chamber of the Senate Building where Jedi Grand Master Yoda duels
the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious.

Click Image for a Larger View

When 900 years you reach,
look as good, you will not. Make this very first Star Wars Disney limited polystone bust
part of your Star Wars and Disney
collection!

Stitch as Yoda Polystone Bust will be released during Star Wars™ Weekends. Sculpture release date is April 30, 2012. Stitch is a Maximum Limited Edition of 3,000 with a SRP of $ 65.00 US.

Please check www.ArtOfDisneyParks.comfor an announcement by April 30th with more information on
how to acquire and availability.

NOTE: A limited number of Stitch as Yoda polystone
busts will be made available at Disneyland® Resort following the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort premiere, subject to availability.

BURBANK, Calif. – April
19, 2012 – Marvel’sThe Avengers is so big, Disney twenty-three magazine needs not
one, not two, but three eye-popping collectible covers to do it justice … and
that’s what D23: The Official Disney Fan Club has planned for the summer issue,
which is available nationwide on May 1.

Coinciding with the
worldwide theatrical release of Marvel’sThe Avengers, the summer issue of Disney twenty-three features a 10-page story
on the creation of the biggest superhero film ever produced. Author and Disney
Imagineer Jason Surrell spoke with the film’s acclaimed writer-director Joss
Whedon, as well as stars Robert Downey Jr., Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson,
Tom Hiddleston and Clark Gregg, and producer Kevin Feige to get the
behind-the-scenes details on the explosive film, from the complexities of
bringing many of the world’s most famous heroes together to nights out dancing
in downtown Albuquerque.

Each of the
magazine’s three front and back covers
feature different characters:

Iron
Man and Nick Fury on front; Hulk and Captain America on back

Thor
and Black Widow on front; Iron Man and Hawkeye on back

Captain
America on front; Hulk and Hawkeye on back

“Marvel’sThe Avengers is
a groundbreaking film, so we had to do something equally exceptional with our
flagship magazine that would thrill both Disney and Marvel fans alike,” says
Steven Clark, head of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club. Along with the new
issue, D23 Gold Members will receive a special member-only gift: one of seven
collectible patches featuring the insignias of each Avenger.

Marvel’sThe
Avengers is only part of what’s in store in the summer issue of Disney twenty-three, which explores the
most exciting new developments throughout Disney – while offering new insight
into fan favorites. Among the articles in the summer issue:

A Brave New World:Readers
will travel to Pixar Animation Studios and meet the team bringing to life
the mystical world of ancient Scotland in Pixar’s 13th animated feature, Brave;

A World of Fantasy: Climb
aboard the newest ship in the Disney Cruise Line fleet and explore what
makes the Disney Fantasy unlike
any other vessel to set sail;

To Annette, With Love: An in-depth
interview with Glen Holt, the devoted husband of everyone’s favorite
Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello;

Bon Anniversaire, Disneyland Paris: As Disney’s
only European theme park turns 20, Disney
twenty-three looks back at its creation and ahead to its magical
future;

The World Will Know and Written in the Stars: Two articles
that take closer looks at Disney’s latest, critically acclaimed Broadway
productions: Newsies and Peter and the Starcatcher.

He Wrote the Songs:A touching remembrance of
legendary Disney songwriter Robert B. Sherman;

The summer issue of Disney twenty-three also offers an
exclusive interview with Newsies film
director Kenny Ortega; a celebration of the history of the Disney Store, which
first opened its doors 25 years ago; photos from the latest D23 events across
the country – and rarely seen photos from the Walt Disney Archives in the
magazine’s popular PHOTOfiles section.

Monday, April 16, 2012

The Official Disney Fan Club
Showcases the Largest-Ever Exhibitionof Iconic Props, Costumes, Artwork and
Artifacts from the Walt Disney Archives

BURBANK, Calif. – April 16, 2012 – D23
PRESENTS TREASURES OF THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES, which encompasses more
than 500 historic artifacts from nearly nine decades of Disney history, opens
at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum on July 6, continuing
through April 2013.

Presented
by D23: The Official Disney Fan Club and The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation
and Library, D23 PRESENTS TREASURES OF THE WALT DISNEY ARCHIVES is the
largest exhibition ever curated by the Walt Disney Archives, at 12,000 square
feet. From Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and Mickey Mouse to Captain Jack Sparrow and
Captain America, the exhibition features more than 500 artifacts, at least half
of which have never been seen by the public— including models, props, costumes,
set pieces, and artwork from throughout Disney history.

“Ronald Reagan and Walt Disney were
longtime friends, two optimists who shared an unwavering belief in the
essential goodness of the American way of life,” said Bob Iger, chairman and
CEO, The Walt Disney Company. “We’re proud to partner with the Reagan Library
and the National Archives to showcase Disney’s rich entertainment legacy. This
extraordinary exhibit will offer visitors an unprecedented look into Disney’s
history and celebrate the connection between these two American originals.”

Among the
extraordinary items to be featured are:

·The original
script, written by Walt Disney, for Mickey Mouse’s film debut in 1928’s Steamboat Willie;

·A faithful
recreation of Walt’s formal office from the Walt Disney Studios in Burbank,
Calif., including original furnishings and many of his personal items;

·Hand-drawn
artwork and hand-sculpted models used in the production of some of the most
beloved Disney animated film classics ever created, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Bambi, and Sleeping Beauty;

·Props from
classic Disney live-action productions, including Mary Poppins, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, The Absent-Minded Professor,
The Shaggy Dog, Babes in Toyland, Bedknobs and Broomsticks and more;

·Breathtaking
props, costumes, and set pieces from recent Disney classics, including the Pirates of the Caribbean films, Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, TRON: Legacy, National Treasure and Captain
America;

·Intricately sculptured
busts of all 44 U.S. Presidents that were created for Audio-Animatronics® figures seen in the The Hall of Presidents attraction at the
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort;

The exhibitionalso
pays tribute to the long personal friendship and professional collaboration
between Walt Disney and Ronald Reagan, which began many years before President
Reagan’s political career.

On July 17, 1955,
Ronald Reagan was one of the co-hosts of ABC Network’s live coverage of the
opening of Disneyland, and as governor of California, he frequently visited
Disney’s first theme park. After leaving the Oval Office, one of his first
public events was a return to Disneyland, where he officiated at the park’s
January 1990 35th-anniversary celebration, proclaiming it “one of America’s
national treasures.”

“Walt Disney and
Ronald Reagan shared a passion for America, a belief in the human spirit, and
an innate optimism that, in both men, galvanized the public,” said John
Heubusch, executive director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. “President
Reagan was a great admirer of Walt Disney, and we are tremendously proud to
host this wonderful exhibition of Disney treasures, and to honor the bond
between Walt and President Reagan.”

For exhibit hours
and additional information, visit the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library &
Museum online at www.reaganlibrary.com,
or www.Disney.com/D23. Admission to the exhibition is included with the
purchase of admission to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum.Through April 2013, when the exhibition is
scheduled to end, members of D23: The Official Disney Fan Club also save $2 on
every adult admission.

“At 12,000 square feet, this is the
largest special exhibit the Reagan Library has ever put on,” said Duke
Blackwood, director of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. “It is a
testament to the relationship between Walt Disney and our nation’s presidents,
as well as the story of Disney, itself. The Reagan Library and National
Archives are honored to host this extraordinary exhibit.”

The Ronald Reagan
Library & Museum is located in Simi Valley, Calif., about 60 minutes north
of downtown Los Angeles and approximately two hours north of the Disneyland
Resort in Anaheim.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Those Three Happy Chappies have Landed! For me, it was fun following their journey, awaiting in anticipation their arrival. From hitting the shores of the U.S. (after being at sea for approximately 45 days) to arriving at the warehouse, then being shipped to retailers and finally descending to land on my front porch!

This was a sculpture I've campaigned for many years and not only appreciate WDCC/Enesco putting up with my constant 'reminders' but following through with such an amazing sculpture! The sculpture captures the brilliance, emotion and bold (and vivid) colors of the film. I am personally pleased that they went with the serape as the base for the sculpture and gave the sculpture such a sense of motion.

Click Image for Larger View

Something I didn't pick up in the photos was how Panchito was painted. I like that they went with a shinier finish on his clothes and a more matte finish on his body. It makes his jacket and trousers really stand out.

Plussed with pewter spurs on Panchito and a pewter ribbon on Donald’s hat, this muy grande sculpture embodies the fun and fiesta spirit of this animated carnivale of animated delights."Airborne Amigos' sculpted by Bruce Lau is a Numbered Limited Editioin (NLE) of 500 and one sculpture I've wanted to see done for many, many years ... Thanks WDCC!!!!

Enesco.com sent out an email blast for the upcoming Artist Signing Event at the Art of Disney, Epcot® to be held on Saturday, April 21st.

Join Figment on an expedition into breathtaking wonder and towering imagination! Creativity is a never-ending adventure, and this intrepid, little dragon is the personification of that all-too-human quest to push the boundaries of the possible and discover uncharted territories of magic and dreams.

Recreating the memorable moment in “Heights of Imagination” in which Figment scales the summit of a snow-capped peak, this new numbered, limited edition of 500 Walt Disney Classics Collection sculpture captures the daring mountaineer at the apex of his creative powers.

Click Image for Product Information

Based on original attraction reference, Figment is hand-crafted of fine porcelain, hand-painted, kiln-fired and provisioned with real rope, metal flag pole and flag, and metallic paint on the pick axe.

Sculpted by Bruce Lau with creative direction from Disney Master Artist David Pacheco,

Please visit The Art of Disney Parks web site for information about the event and how to order, information should be posted by February 27, 2012: